Board OKs 3 new hires as school year approaches

NEW HAVEN — The new hires keep coming for the city school district as the 2021-22 school year draws near.

The Board of Education, acting on recommendations of Superintendent of Schools Iline Tracey, named an interim chief financial officer, a chief of staff for central office and an interim assistant principal at Davis Street Magnet School.

The personnel actions came as the district also hired 52 new teachers — 25 of them provisionally pending certification — and 14 paraprofessionals.

Some of the new teachers are being paid for with federal COVID relief funds, according to the personnel report.

Linda Hannas, director of the district’s business office, was named interim chief financial officer. She replaces Phillip Penn, who left in June to become the CFO for Hartford Public Schools.

The search for a permanent finance director is ongoing. Tracey said the district so far has not had much success in its search, even with the help of a search firm.

The superintendent said Hannas has worked in various roles with the district since 1971, when she was a student work-study intern. At the time, her goal was to be a secretary.

She went on to get business degrees and is qualified to handle the job, Tracey said.

“Linda is one of those individuals who stays with the ship,” Tracey said. “I could not find a more fitting person to offer the position to. She knows where everything is.”

In her current position, Hannas receives $107,000 annually. The interim job pays $185,000.

A memorandum of understanding with AFSCME Local 3144, approved by the school board, indicates

Hannas will be in the position for up to six months.

Michael Finley, a native of Griffin, Ga., and executive director of the UCAP

School Independent School in Providence, R.I., will be Tracey’s chief of staff effective Sept, 13.

Prior to Rhode Island, Finley was part of the University of Connecticut’s Executive Leadership Program, and before that, a principal at Jumoke Academy in Hartford.

In his new role, he will receive $165,000.

Adham Conaway, a sixthgrade teacher at Davis, will be interim assistant principal at Davis. The previous assistant principal, Marisa Asarisi, now is interim principal of the school.

Conaway, a city native, is the son of school board member Larry Conaway.

“I am extremely excited for this school year,” Adham Conaway said. He has taught at Davis since 2015 and has a sixth-year educational leadership certificate from Southern Connecticut State University.

Board member Edward Joyner called Conaway the kind of young leader the city, state and country needs. Conaway is the favorite teacher of Joyner’s grandson.

“He is cut from the same cloth as his mother and his father,” Joyner said. “He is bright, committed and ethical.”

The vote passed with four out of seven members voting in favor.

Larry Conaway recused himself from the vote on the appointments. Board member Dr. Tamiko JacksonMcArthur voted against, and member Darnell Goldson abstained from the vote on the appointments because supporting materials were not provided online to the public prior to the meeting.

Goldson also abstained from the vote on the memorandum of understanding for the interim finance position.